The crafting revolution

If you love a spot of crafting you'll love the Festival of Craft in Farnham this month where the nation's best crafters, including a group from the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen, come together to show their work.

Crafting. It’s a thing you know. Gone are the days of make do and mend – crafting is a multimillion dollar industry throughout the world. And it’s cool. In fact, it’s super cool.

Super models knit, Hollywood A-listers crochet and some of my most stylin’ friends handcraft their own stunning gift cards.

Crafting has been on the up for a couple of years, and love it or loathe it, the craft revolution is here to stay. In Surrey, there are several festivals dedicated to craft. And one of the biggest and best attended is the Festival of Crafts at Farnham Maltings at the end of the month (Sat 28 and Sun 29 Oct).

This one attracts the best makers from across the UK as well as the cream of the local crop, including a contingent from the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen, who will be demonstrating and showcasing their work.

The festival champions great design and the process of making, both traditional and modern techniques and skills. These makers are no hobbyists like you and me. These guys are seriously talented, turning out exquisite crafts from jewellery and knitwear, to ceramics, glass work and more.

Linda began enamelling when she found an old kiln in a junk shop over thirty years ago. She was quickly seduced by the infinite variety of colours and textures that can be achieved.

Linda Scott-Cerins

Linda started working with glass in 2013 when she enrolled in a weekly adult education evening class in Guildford and quickly got sucked into the many and varied ways glass can be used. Her love of experimentation, particularly with texture and colour, produce striking pieces beautifully suited to both modern and more traditional homes.

Nancy Shafee

Nancy started feltmaking in 2009 and was immediately inspired by the many colour combinations possible. She also makes coiled fabric baskets and runs workshops for both feltmaking and basketmaking as well as weaving.

Susan Holton

Sue creates beautiful, original wearable knitwear for women, crafted with meticulous attention to design detail and quality of finish, so garments fit well and fabrics drape beautifully.

Gabriella Sellors

What better reason to start making jewellery than because you love it? Gabriella especially loves earrings and but couldn’t find many she liked, so gradually found herself making more and more – and that was some thirty five years ago!
She often demonstrates at events and for The Surrey Guild where she is also a valued committee member.

Jo Aylwin

Another new member to The Surrey Guild, Jo produces beautiful decorative art using the techniques of weaving. She has been an enthusiastic supporter of Guild events since joining and also teaches weaving in Farnham.